Gas-oil obtained from bitumen contains a significant amount of impurities, which are difficult to remove using a conventional alumina supported hydrotreating catalyst. Innumerable studies have been carried out to develop a highly effective hydrotreating catalyst, and among all utilizing more advanced support is considered as a better alternative. Recently, SBA-15, which is an ordered mesoporous silica support, has received importance as a catalyst support because of its excellent textural properties. However, SBA-15 lacks surface acidity and provides very low metal-support interaction. By modifying SBA-15 with zirconia, an optimum level of surface acidity and Si-Mo interaction can be achieved. Also, by doping zirconia with SBA-15, the textural properties of zirconia can be improved. Hence, a synergistic effect can be obtained while incorporating zirconia onto SBA-15 and the resulting material Zr-SBA-15 can be used as an effective support for hydrotreating catalyst. In the present study, Zr-SBA-15 supports were prepared by the post synthesis and the direct synthesis method with different zirconia loading. Zr-SBA-15 supported NiMo catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation technique. Catalysts and supports were characterized by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), nitrogen adsorption/desorption (BET), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy methods.<p> Characterization of support confirmed that the zirconia was successfully incorporated in a mesoporous SBA-15 structure without significantly changing the textural properties of SBA-15. The performance of the Zr-SBA-15 supported NiMo catalysts was evaluated based on hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation activities exhibited during hydrotreating of heavy gas oil derived from Athabasca bitumen at industrial operating condition (temperature 375-395 °C, pressure 8.9 MPa, LHSV 1.0 hr-1 and gas/oil ratio 600 Nm3/m3). The comparison of catalytic activities showed that the NiMo catalysts supported on Zr-SBA-15, prepared by direct and post synthesis method exhibited higher hydrotreating activity compared to SBA-15 supported catalyst. NiMo catalyst supported on Zr-SBA-15 with 23 wt% of ZrO2 loading, prepared by post synthesis method showed the highest activity among all the catalysts.<p> After determining the best support, the optimum catalyst metal loadings on the Zr-SBA-15 support was found to be 17 wt% of Mo and 3.4 wt% of Ni. This catalyst also showed higher activity in mass basis for the hydrotreating of heavy gas oil compared to that of commercial hydrotreating catalyst.<p> A kinetic study was performed on the optimum NiMo/Zr-SBA-15 catalyst to predict its HDS and HDN activities while varying the parameters of temperature, liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV), pressure and gas-to-oil ratio. Rate expressions were developed using Power Law and Langmuir-Hinshelwood model to predict the behavior of both the HDS and HDN reactions. Power law models were best fit with reaction orders of 1.8 and 1.3, and activation energies of 115 kJ/mol and 121 kJ/mol, for HDS and HDN reactions, respectively. The activation energies calculated using Langmuir-Hinshelwood model considering H2S inhibition were found to be 122 kJ/mol and 138 kJ/mol, for HDS and HDN reactions, respectively.

Gas-oil obtained from bitumen contains a significant amount of impurities, which are difficult to remove using a conventional alumina supported hydrotreating catalyst. Innumerable studies have been carried out to develop a highly effective hydrotreating catalyst, and among all utilizing more advanced support is considered as a better alternative. Recently, SBA-15, which is an ordered mesoporous silica support, has received importance as a catalyst support because of its excellent textural properties. However, SBA-15 lacks surface acidity and provides very low metal-support interaction. By modifying SBA-15 with zirconia, an optimum level of surface acidity and Si-Mo interaction can be achieved. Also, by doping zirconia with SBA-15, the textural properties of zirconia can be improved. Hence, a synergistic effect can be obtained while incorporating zirconia onto SBA-15 and the resulting material Zr-SBA-15 can be used as an effective support for hydrotreating catalyst. In the present study, Zr-SBA-15 supports were prepared by the post synthesis and the direct synthesis method with different zirconia loading. Zr-SBA-15 supported NiMo catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation technique. Catalysts and supports were characterized by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), nitrogen adsorption/desorption (BET), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy methods.<p> Characterization of support confirmed that the zirconia was successfully incorporated in a mesoporous SBA-15 structure without significantly changing the textural properties of SBA-15. The performance of the Zr-SBA-15 supported NiMo catalysts was evaluated based on hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation activities exhibited during hydrotreating of heavy gas oil derived from Athabasca bitumen at industrial operating condition (temperature 375-395 °C, pressure 8.9 MPa, LHSV 1.0 hr-1 and gas/oil ratio 600 Nm3/m3). The comparison of catalytic activities showed that the NiMo catalysts supported on Zr-SBA-15, prepared by direct and post synthesis method exhibited higher hydrotreating activity compared to SBA-15 supported catalyst. NiMo catalyst supported on Zr-SBA-15 with 23 wt% of ZrO2 loading, prepared by post synthesis method showed the highest activity among all the catalysts.<p> After determining the best support, the optimum catalyst metal loadings on the Zr-SBA-15 support was found to be 17 wt% of Mo and 3.4 wt% of Ni. This catalyst also showed higher activity in mass basis for the hydrotreating of heavy gas oil compared to that of commercial hydrotreating catalyst.<p> A kinetic study was performed on the optimum NiMo/Zr-SBA-15 catalyst to predict its HDS and HDN activities while varying the parameters of temperature, liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV), pressure and gas-to-oil ratio. Rate expressions were developed using Power Law and Langmuir-Hinshelwood model to predict the behavior of both the HDS and HDN reactions. Power law models were best fit with reaction orders of 1.8 and 1.3, and activation energies of 115 kJ/mol and 121 kJ/mol, for HDS and HDN reactions, respectively. The activation energies calculated using Langmuir-Hinshelwood model considering H2S inhibition were found to be 122 kJ/mol and 138 kJ/mol, for HDS and HDN reactions, respectively.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:56:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4974.pdf: 3642452 bytes, checksum: 9983d14f77babcbd0c76cb3ef274c7c6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-18 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / Mo, NiMo or NiMoP HDS catalysts were supported on Al2O3, Al2O3-TiO2 or TiO2. These supports were synthesized via sol-gel and in the case o TiO2 it was used a commercial sample. The active phases were introduced by impregnation. Supports and catalysts in the oxide form were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy (DRSUV-Vis), thermogravimetric analyses (TG), temperature-programmed reduction with H2 (TPR-H2), N2 adsorption/desorption, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), temperature-programmed desorption of NH3 (TPD-NH3), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and evaluated at 300°C in the HDS of thiophene, used as a model molecule. Alumina presented a high specific surface area and meso/macroprous characteristics, allowing a high dispersion of the active phases, as was evidenced by XRD and DRSUV-VIS data. A HRTEM image of a NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst showed the presence of crystalline MoS2 whose activity was substantially promoted by the presence of Ni. The NiMo catalysts were active in the HDS of thiophene, however, the activity was enhanced significantly by the incorporation of P. This result corroborates the positive influence of P in the preparation of HDS catalysts. It was suggested that P must participate as promoter in the formation of the NiMoS phase during the sulfidation process of the Ni and Mo oxides. The supported NiMoP catalysts prepared in this work were more active than a commercial NiMoP/ Al2O3 catalyst, with this result validating the preparation procedures used here. The titania addition in the alumina framework led to NiMo catalysts possessing lower activity. That behavior was attributed to the formation of Ni and Mo sulfides without interaction diminishing the generation NiMoS phase, which is highly active in the HDS of sulfured organic compounds. / Catalisadores para hidrodessulfurização (HDS) contendo Mo, NiMo ou NiMo e o aditivo fósforo (P), foram suportados sobre Al2O3, Al2O3-TiO2 ou TiO2. A alumina e a alumina-titânia foram sintetizadas via sol-gel e, no caso da titânia pura, utilizada uma amostra comercial. A introdução dos sais precursores da fase ativa foi realizada via impregnação. Suportes e catalisadores na forma de óxidos foram caracterizados através de difração de raios X (DRX), espectroscopia por refletância difusa no ultravioleta visível (DRSUV-VIS), termogravimetria (TG), redução com hidrogênio à temperatura programada (RTP-H2), adsorção/dessorção de N2, espectroscopia de energia dispersiva de raios X (EDX), fluorescência de raios X (FRX), dessorção de amônia a temperatura programada (TPD-NH3), microscopia eletrônica de transmissão de alta resolução (HRTEM) e avaliados a 300&#8304;C na HDS do tiofeno. A alumina apresentou uma alta área superficial específica e características meso/macroporosa, possibilitando alta dispersão das fases ativas, conforme evidenciado por DRX e dados de DRSUV-VIS. A imagem de HRTEM do catalisador NiMo/Al2O3 mostrou a presença de MoS2 cuja atividade foi promovida substancialmente pela presença de Ni. Os catalisadores NiMo sobre os suportes utilizados foram ativos no HDS do tiofeno, entretanto, essa atividade foi melhorada pela incorporação de P. Esse resultado ratifica a influência positiva da utilização desse aditivo na preparação de catalisadores de HDS. O fósforo deve atuar como um promotor na formação de espécies NiMoS durante o processo de sulfetação dos óxidos de Mo e Ni. Os catalisadores NiMoP preparados neste trabalho apresentaram atividade específica superior à de um catalisador NiMoP/Al2O3 comercial, o que valida os procedimentos de preparação utilizados no trabalho. A adição de titânia na alumina durante a síntese sol-gel conduziu a catalisadores com menor atividade. Esse resultado foi atribuído à formação de sulfetos de Ni e Mo não interativos, com a consequente diminuição da formação da fase NiMoS de alta atividade no HDS de compostos organo-sulfurados.